FAPA mass spectrometry of hydroxychalcones. Comparative studies with classical methods of ionization

In this paper we are focused on analysis of hydroxychalcones, i.e. 2’-hydroxychalcone, 3’-hydroxychalcone and 4’-hydroxychalcone, by the Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow mass spectrometry (FAPA-MS), and on comparison of the obtained data with other classical methods including ESI-MS, APCI, MALDI, and GC/EI-MS. The paper is presenting fragmentation pathways of both positive-, and negative hydroxychalcone ions. Tested compounds were characterized by comparison of the results (signals m/z and relative intensities) from the five mass spectrometry techniques, showing very good utility of FAPA method for fast and easy analysis of the low molecular weight compounds. Moreover, FAPA does not require a time-consuming derivatization, nor search for a suitable solvent or matrix, often incompatible with various ion sources.